Cascade Fire victim a neighborly woman who tried to outrun blaze

Flames from the LaPorte Fire could be seen from the Equine Rescue Center property in this photo Hardeman posted to the ranch's Facebook page early Monday morning. Although now that fire has moved away from the property, now the ranch is being threatened by the Cascade Fire.

Flames from the LaPorte Fire could be seen from the Equine Rescue Center property in this photo Hardeman posted to the ranch's Facebook page early Monday morning. Although now that fire has moved away from the

Horses at the Equine Rescue Center in Bangor are kept in an enclosure away from the fires, as owner Monica Hardeman closely monitors the spreading Cascade Fire, near the property.

Horses at the Equine Rescue Center in Bangor are kept in an enclosure away from the fires, as owner Monica Hardeman closely monitors the spreading Cascade Fire, near the property.

Photo: Courtesy Monica Hardeman

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Victims of the October 2017 Wine Country Fires

In early October 2017, wildfires devastated communities northern California, including Napa, Lake and Sonoma counties. See the faces of those we've lost >>

In early October 2017, wildfires devastated communities northern California, including Napa, Lake and Sonoma counties. See the faces of those we've lost >>

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Victims of the October 2017 Wine Country Fires

Karen Aycock, 54

Aycock loved animals, perhaps more than people, her friends said. “Even if she knew there was a fire, she more than likely would have perished trying to rescue them,” said Chad Hinden, Aycock’s friend and former roommate. “She wouldn’t leave the house without her animals.”

Mrs. Berriz died in the arms of her husband, Armando, as they clung to each other in the swimming pool of their rented house in Santa Rosa. Mrs. Berriz had been vacationing with her family at a home on Crystal Court when they were awakened by the fire, jumping into the pool with her husband to escape the flames. Mr. Berriz survived with severe burns.Read more

Sally Eaves Lewis, 90, independent businesswoman, formidable fisher and hunter, and mother of two, spent much of her life at her home on Soda Canyon Road in Napa. On Oct. 8, however, the fires roaring across the region moved too fast. Ms. Lewis was killed, along with her caregiver, Teresa Santos, 50.

Mr. Grant died with his wife, Suiko, early Monday when the Tubbs Fire tore through northern Santa Rosa. Daughter Trina Grant said her father had served as a lieutenant in the Navy and trained as a fighter pilot in World War II. After the war, he flew for Pan Am as a commercial pilot and retired after 25 years of service.

Mrs. Grant died with her husband, Arthur, when they were unable to escape their home in the Mark West Springs Road area of Santa Rosa. The couple had met in Honolulu when Mr. Grant was flying as a commercial pilot for Pan Am. “It was a true love-at-first-sight story,” said their daughter Trina Grant.

Mrs. Halbur was found with her husband, LeRoy, in their parked car, trapped in the garage of their charred Sonoma home. The couple had been married for 50 years, and is survived by a son, Dave, and their grandchildren.

Mr. Halbur died with his wife, Donna, as they attempted to flee their Sonoma home. A retired accountant, Mr. Halbur helped found the Catholic charitable organization St. Vincent de Paul in Sonoma County in 1968. He was a warm, compassionate man with a sense of humor.

Ms. Hanson had faced many challenges in life, including being born with a spinal birth defect that limited her mobility and losing her mother at age 9. Despite her hardships, Ms. Hanson was “a very happy, social and positive person,” said her stepmother, Jennifer Watson.

Mr. Hoefer died after suffering an asthma attack triggered by the smoke from the Wine Country wildfires. Mr. Hoefer, she said, had tried to call his physician for help, but his doctor’s office had burned down. The nearest hospitals had been evacuated, and the roads to the other medical centers were difficult to traverse. In a last-ditch attempt, Mr. Hoefer went to a nearby pharmacy, but could not find the help he needed there either.

McCombs died in her home on Mark West Springs Road early Oct. 9, unable to escape the flames of the Tubbs Fire, despite repeated efforts by family to come and retrieve her. “She devoted her life to the love and care of our family and her community,” son Branden McCombs said.

McReynolds was an intellectual whose pursuits reached far beyond her medical textbooks and into the expanses of the American West, where she grew up. “She was a great sister,” Janelle McKinley, 78, of Nevada City (Nevada County). “She was like a third parent and a best friend."

Paiz died when the private firefighting water truck he was driving careened off the steep Oakville Grade road in Napa County near Highway 29 around 7 a.m. on Monday October 16, 2017. Officials said it wasn’t clear what caused the accident, but fatigue from long hours of working the fire may have been a factor.

Mrs. Powell was a musician and dog lover who had recently survived a grueling battle with mouth cancer. “She always had my back,” said her husband, George. “She tried to make life OK for me, regardless of what she was going through.”

Mr. Rippey was found with his wife, Sara, in the charred ruins of their Westgate Drive home in Napa. Mr. Rippey was a World War II veteran, later working for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and Norris Industries in Brea (Orange County). He and his wife had grown up together in Wisconsin, and had lived in Napa for 35 years.

Mrs. Rippey was found with her husband, Charles, in what was left of their Napa home. The couple celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in March, and over the years was often spotted at the Napa Valley Country Club playing tennis and golf. Sara and her husband are survived by five children, 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Kai Logan Shepherd was an energetic and athletic 14-year-old who’d befriend anyone. But Kai was unable to escape the flames of the Redwood Valley fire as it ripped through his neighborhood. His sister, Kressa, who was badly burned, died three weeks after the wildfires according to a family member.

Dornbach loved the rugged, rolling hills of northern Napa County — the quiet, the isolation, and the way the stars shone bright at night, piercing the sky between the dark cover of oak and laurel trees.

Mrs. Evans was known for her fierce love of animals. She kept horses, goats, dogs, a mule and a steer at her house on Coffey Lane in Santa Rosa. “We knew her as the horse lady,” said Tracy Long, who was Mrs. Evans’ neighbor for 25 years.

This undated photo provided by Irma Muniz shows the Shepherd family, Jon and Sara Shepherd and their children, Kressa and Kai.

This undated photo provided by Irma Muniz shows the Shepherd family, Jon and Sara Shepherd and their children, Kressa and Kai.

Cascade Fire victim a neighborly woman who tried to outrun blaze

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Sandra Lou Picciano was known for her compassion. When her neighbors needed help, they knew they could count on her. She helped them when they needed a ride somewhere. She was there when they were ill.

“Sandy was a nice person,” said Nadine Webb, Ms. Picciano’s neighbor for the past 17 years. “She helped out with neighbors, taking them to doctor appointments and checking on them when they were sick.”

The Yuba County Sheriff’s Office identified Ms. Picciano, 77, of Loma Rica, as one of four people killed in the inferno that ripped through Cascade Way and Marysville Road in Yuba County.

Webb and her family evacuated their home the escape the fire, and because of irrigated pastures and few trees that surround Webb’s home, it was spared, she said.

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Monica Hardeman, owner of Equine Rescue Center in Bangor, shows areas of town that were hit hard by the fire. Her nonprofit, and its horses, were thankfully spared from the flames as Cal Fire worked to put out the LaPorte And Cascade fires.